Keyboard operator sheet holding and feeding device

ABSTRACT

An easel device for holding sheets of paper in a substantially vertical position for viewing by a typist or the like comprises a flat back plate from which tab portions extend to support shaft means spaced forwardly from the plate. One or more wedging means having a length greater than the distance of the shaft from the plate has an end supported by the shaft and its other end lying loosely against the back plate. A sheet of paper may be easily inserted upwardly between the shaft means and the plate, but the wedging means prevents the paper from falling or moving downwardly. A bar slidable from top to bottom of the plate holds the paper flat against the back plate and serves as an index or cursor for the typist.

United States Patent 1191 Schmutzler et al.

[4 1 Oct. 28, 1975 KEYBOARD OPERATOR SHEET HOLDING AND FEEDING DEVICE [73] Assignee: Scott Machine Development Corporation, Walton, NY.

221 Filed: May3, 1974 211 Appl. No.: 466,543

Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 461,499, April 17,

[52] US. Cl. 40/351 [51] Int. Cl. B41J 11/14 [58] Field of Search 40/341-356, 40/124, 124.2, 10 R, 128, 78, 78.03; 211/89; 197/133 R [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,571,658 2/1926 Coles 40/353 1,612,192 12/1926 Johnson..... 2,649,180 8/1953 Metzner 197/133 R 3,298,647 1/1967 Shepard 211/89 x 3,568,812 3/1971 Eitel 197/133 R 3,586,149 6/1971 Miller 197/133 R FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 612,964 11/1960 Italy 40/106.1

Primary ExaminerJohn H. Wolff Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Richard G. Stephens [57 ABSTRACT An easel device for holding sheets of paper in a substantially vertical position for viewing by a typist or the like comprises a flat back plate from which tab portions extend to support shaft means spaced forwardly from the plate. One or more wedging means having a length greater than the distance of the shaft from the plate has an end supported by the shaft and its other end lying loosely against the back plate. A sheet of paper may be easily inserted upwardly between the shaft means and the plate, but the wedging means prevents the paper from falling or moving downwardly. A bar slidable from top to bottom of the plate holds the paper flat against the back plate and serves as an index or cursor for the typist.

19 Claims, 15 Drawing Figures KEYBOARD OPERATOR SHEET HOLDING AND FEEDING DEVICE This application is a continuation in part of our similarly-entitled prior co-pending application Ser. No. 461,499 filed Apr. 17, 1974.

A variety of business and like operations require that a typist, key punch operator, or computer operator manipulate a keyboard while viewing a sheet of paper containing information to be typed, punched or otherwise entered. While many typists can readily operate keyboards situated in front of them with their'heads turned to view a paper lying flat in a horizontal plane on desks or tables at their sides, it is frequently deemed undesirable to provide a desk or table solely for such a purpose. Some data-processing operations require that an operator type data from a long succession of edge-connected sheets emitted as a single strip from an electronic printer, with the operator advancing to successive sheets as they are fed from the printer, and in such operations it is difficult to train the advancing strip of sheets so that one lies flat on a desk or table in convenient view of the keyboard operator. Operator speed, convenience, and error-free performance can be enhanced in most key-entry applications if the sheet of paper which must be viewed by the operator is positioned more nearly in front of the operator, and if the sheet can be positioned in a substantially vertical plane, where it can be more conveniently viewed by the operator. One object of the present invention is to provide an improved sheet-holding device which can hold sheets of paper in a substantially vertical position within convenient view of an operator. In many applications the operator must be positioned far from any wall; and even when the operator can be positioned near a wall it is frequently inconvenient to locate machinery so that the operator can face and view the wall, and hence a related object of the invention is to provide a sheet-holding mechanism which need not be mounted on a wall, and in which the plane in which the sheet is held can be rotated and/or translated to desired angular and translation positions. Another object of the invention is to provide an improved sheet-holding device for holding sheets in a substantially vertical plane which will allow sheets which are edge-connected to form a lengthy strip to be readily fed into and out of the position where they are viewed by the operator.

Some paper-processing machines use paper stored in the form of a roll, and in many machines paper is fed around one or more rollers as it is processed. Such storage and/or feeding of paper tends to impart a set to the paper, giving it a tendency to curl. If a sheet of paper is laid horizontally, its own weight helps lessen curling although it is still frequently necessary that a typist place some type of weight device (frequently a ruler) atop the paper, so that the area'of current interest on the paper lies flat and completely visible to the typist. lf a sheet of paper of paper is located in a substantially vertical plane, however, not only is the tendency to curl increased, but the use of simple weights such as rulers is precluded. Another object of the invention is to provide an improved paper sheet holding device which will hold a sheet flat, i.e. uncurled, in a substantially vertical plane, even if the sheet has a substantial tendency to otherwise curl.

It is apparent that a sheet of paper could readily be held in a substantially vertical plane against a suitable back surface by a variety of simple means, such as by pinning the sheet to the surface with a plurality of thumb tacks, or adhering the sheet with masking tape. Such simple techniques are deemed wholly impractical, however, in the many applications wherein successive sheets must be rapidly positioned in view and removed. A requirement that an operator maintain a supply of tacks or masking tape, or any similar accessories is also deemed disadvantageous. A very important object of the present invention is to provide an improved paperholding device for holding a sheet in a substantially vertical plane, which allows the sheet to be rapidly fixed in place, in a flat configuration, without the use of accessory fastening means such as tacks or masking tape or the like.

It is also apparent that a sheet of paper could be held in a substantially vertical plane by the use of a suitablypositioned back surface plate having two or more spring clips of the'type used on ordinary portable clipboards, for example. However, the use of such spring clips tends to be undesirably clumsy. Substantial spring forces are required, particularly if papers of different thicknesses are used, and repeated flexing of such spring clips would tend to cause operator fatigue. To fix a sheet in position using an ordinary spring clip, the operator must use both hands, using one hand to depress and ultimately release the spring clip, while using her other hand to align an edge of the paper under the raised edge of the spring clip. Subsequent removal of the sheet also requires the use of both hands. One important object of the present invention is to provide an improved paperholding device in which the operator may insert and securely fix a sheet in position, in a substantially vertical plane, using only one hand, and then remove the sheet, again using only one hand. The advantage of being able to use only one hand for insertion and removal gains added importance when one considers that it greatly relaxes the'requi rements concerning which direction the operator must face. A further object of the invention is to provide an improved paperholding device in which neither insertion or removal of a sheet requires the operator to overcome a spring force.

In various applications, including the common dataprocessing operations wherein successive sheets processed by a computer printer have their adjacent edges attached to form a long strip of sheets, considerable operator convenience and operating speed may be attained if the operator can readily insert or advance a new sheet into position'by a simple pushing with one hand, without any need to release any spring clips or similar clamps, and a further important object of the invention is to provide a paper-holding device which readily lends itself to such operation;

For maximum utility it is desirable that a sheetholding device be readily adjustable to position sheets at different heights, different viewing angles and different viewing distances relative to the operator, and as is shown below, the assembly of the present invention readily lends itself to use of a convenient positioning linkage means readily adjustable in the aforementioned respects Once adjusted, the sheet-holding device is held in position by friction in the linkage means. In order that the linkage means be readily adjustable it is desirable that modest friction be used." However, in order to prevent unwarranted mis-adju'stment of the device once it has been adjustedto a desired position, it is necessary that operator use of the device in placing and re-placing successive sheets not require the operator to apply substantial forces to the sheet-holding devide. Thus another object of the invention is to provide sheet-holding means to which the operator need not apply substantial forces in placing and re-placing successive sheets.

Our abovementioned prior application discloses a variety of paperholding devices which admirably accomplish the above objects. A further object of the present invention is to provide devices which are more economical to fabricate than the devices of the prior application.

One object of the present invention is to provide an improved paper holding device which is more readily adaptable for the holding of paper strips of varying widths, so that the device may be readily used not only on wide computer printout sheets, for example, but also on much narrower strips, such as case register tapes.

Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will be part appear hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction, combination of elements, and arranged of parts, which will be exemplified in the constructions hereinafter set forth, and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front view of one form of paper-holding device constructed in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. la is a section view taken at lines 1lla in FIG.

FIG. lb is a view taken lines 1b1b in FIG. 1.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the device of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a top view of the device of FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 3a is an isometric view of a modified portion of the device of FIGS. 1-3.

FIGS. 4a-4d are diagrams useful in understanding the function of several forms of the present invention.

FIGS. 5, 6, 7, 7a, 8 and 9 are diagrammatic side views illustrating various modifications of the device of FIGS. l-3.

Referring now to FIGS. 1-3, the assembly thereshown will be seen to include a back-plate means 10 affixed to an adjustable linkage 11 FIG. 2) by a universal joint connection means 12. Linkage 11 is shown as in-.

cluding a base bracket 14 having a cylindrical lower portion 14a adapted to seat within a generally-vertical cyclindrical recess or socket 15 (FIG. 1) provided in a desk, table, or suitable similar portion of a dataprocessing or like machine. Knob 16 carrying set screw means 17 allows the cylindrical portion 14a of the linkage to belocked at a desired angle about the vertical axis of socket 15. In various applications it will be apparent that no set screw need be provided, and in any case it will be seen that bracket 14 may be rotated about a vertical axis so that linkage 1 1 and plate 10 are situated in any desired direction from recess 15. The precise manner in which base bracket 14 is affixed to a desk, table or machine is not crucial to the present invention. In some applications base bracket 14 may seat in a recess in any form of weighted base (not shown) which in turn merely resets atop a horizontal surface of a desk, table or machine. In one convenient arrangement, recess 15 may be provided in a standard C-clamp (not shown), which clamp may be used to grip a table or desktop, for example.

A pair of rigid bars 18, 20 (FIG. 2) extend from base bracket 14 to intermediate bracket means 21 formed by a pair of spaced plates, the ends of bars 18 and 20 being pivotally connected to bracket 14 and bracket means 21 by bolts 22, 22 passing through holes in the ends of bars 18, 20. A further pair of rigid bars 24,25 extend from intermediate bracket means 21 to a further bracket means 26, which is also formed by a pair of spaced plates with the ends of bars 24 and 25 pivotally connected to brackets 21 and 26 by bolts 27, 27. Bolts 22, 22 and 27, 27 are tightened so that the plates of brackets 14, 21 ad 26 engage the bars with substantial friction, allowing the bars to rotate relative to the plates only when the friction is overcome. First spring means shown as comprising tension springs 29,30 are connected between pins 31, 31 on base bracket 14 and pins 32, 32 on bar 20. A second pair of tension spring means 34, 35 (only one 34 of which is visible in FIG. 2) is connected between pins 37, 37 on intermediate bracket 21 and bar 24. As the section of linkage 11 formed by bars 18, 20 rotates clockwise in FIG. 2, thereby increasing the moment arm through which the weight of the back-plate means acts at bracket 14, spring 29, 30 receive increased tension. Similarly, as the section of linkage 1 1 formed by bars 24, 25 rotates, springs 34, 35 receive increased tension. Thus the tensions in the springs vary in accordance with the varying moment imposed by the weight of plate 10 as plate 10 is moved to different positions to place it at a convenient viewing position. Since the springs flex to oppose the moment imposed by the weight of plate 10, modest friction may be used at the ends of the bars, thereby making the linkage easy to adjust. Thus with base bracket 14 installed at a fixed position, it will be apparent that back-plate 10 may be moved leftwardly or rightwardly and upwardly or downwardly in FIG. 2 in order to locate plate 10 at a desired elevation and a desired distance from an operator position.

A block 39 (FIG. 2) bolted between the plates of bracket 26 by means of bolt 40 carries an integral curved rod 41 having a spherical metal ball 42 on one end. Bracket 44 welded to the rear side of back-plate 10 and clamp bracket 45 are each provided with circular holes in which ball 42 is seated to provide a universal joint or swivel connection. As best seen in FIG. la, ball 42 is clamped between brackets 44 and 45 by means of screw 47 and nut 47a, and screw 48 which engages a threaded recess in knob 48a. Screw 48 is fastened securely to bracket 44 by nut 48b, so that screw 48 cannot rotate as knob 48a is turned. Thus by tightening or loosening knob 48a, the frictional forces clamping ball 42 may be adjusted. Thus it willbe seen that the universal joint connection and the linkage allow the back plate 10 to be positioned and angularly oriented so that the front surface of plate 10 lies at a desired position conveniently visible to the operator. In general the back plate will be arranged to extend substantially vertically, though slight deviations from a strictly vertical plane are desirably allowed.

Back-plate 10 is shown formed from a single metal sheet, with a pair of rearwardly-extending side flanges 10a, 10b, a rearwardly-extending top flange 10c, and a forwardly-extending lower flange 10d having a lip 10e.

Each of the flanges serves to stiffen plate 10, and lower flange d also serves as a convenient tray, which may support pencils, marking pens, or the like (not shown) and which also may support pencils, marking pens, or the like (not shown) and which also may support the lower edge of a book or tablet should the operator desire to view such an item. It will be seen that when a book is supported on lower flange 10d, lip We will limit outward movement of the edges of book pages, thereby holding the book open to a desired page.

Rod 51 (FIG. 1) extends along one side of back-plate l0, and the ends of rod 51 are welded or brazed to plate 10 adjacent its upper and lower edges. A U-shaped slide bracket 53 carries a slot having a width slightly exceeding the diameter of rod 51, the slot extending along bracket 53 from point 52a to point 52b in FIG. 1b. A wire spring 54 urges bracket 53 away from rod 51, thereby seating the bracket 53 with the ends of slot 52 engaging rod 51, whereby bracket 53 is rotatable about the substantially vertical axis of rod 51. An index means 55 preferably comprising a piece of a sheet of semi-transparent plastic has one of its ends affixed to slide bracket 53, by a screw and nut 57a, 57b and a screw 58a passing through a hole in bracket 53 into index knob 58. Thus it will be apparent that index 55 may be slid upwardly and downwardly relative to plate 10. Further, since index 55 is mounted at only one of its ends, it will be seen that it may be swung outwardly from back-plate 10, pivoting about rod 51, to a position where it extends perpendicularly to the plane of backplate 10, for example. In the use of the assembly, the paper sheet passes beneath index bar 55, which lies loosely atop the front surface of the plate. Bar 55 will be seen to hold a portion of the paper sheet flat against the front surface of plate 10. Bar 55 may carry graduations or other indicia, such as inch graduations or column numbers, preferably along its upper edge. When a book is supported by lower flange 10d with lip 10c limiting outward movement of the lower edge of the pages, it will be seen that index 55 will also prevent the pages from turning. A

A pair of metal tab plates 60, 61 preferably welded or otherwise affixed to side flanges 10a and 10b near the top of back plate 10, extend forwardly from the front surface of plate 10, and contain holes which journal the ends of shaft 62, which maybe formed from either wire or plastic. Means shown as cotter pins 63, 64 secured in holes in the ends of shaft 62 fixed the sidewise position of shaft 62. The axis of shaft 62 extends along a line parallel to the front surface of plate 10. The outer ends of tabs 60, 61 are preferably rounded as shown, to obviate the presence of sharp corners which might tear the paper or allow the operator to be scratched. Disposed on shaft 62 are a plurality of rubber strips 66a-66c. Shaft 62 passes through a hole near the outer end of each such strip, with each such hole large enough that each such strip may rotate relative to shaft 62 without appreciable friction. A composite metal-rubber or plastic-rubber washer 67 is carried on shaft 62 loosely adjacent each side of each of rubber strips 66a-66c. Each composite washer 67 comprises a rubber washer portion cemented to a metal or plastic washer portion. The holes through the rubber washer portions are made small enough that each grips shaft 62 with appreciable friction. Thus the operator may overcome that friction and slide composite washers to desired positions along shaft 62, and then the friction will preserve the spacing of the composite washers, thereby preserving the spacing between rubber strips 66a66c. The metal or plastic portions of the composite washers merely provide slick surfaces, so that any of strips 66a66c may rotate relative to shaft 62 with minimum friction even if one side of such a strip rubs against one of its adjacent composite washers. In some applications the metal or plastic portions of the composite washers may be omitted.

Each of resilient strips 66a-66c has a length exceeding the distance of shaft 62 from back plate 10, and in the absence of any paper sheet an end of each strip lies against plate 10, and each strip extends or curves slightly upwardly, as indicated by the angle -y in FIG. 2. It may be mentioned at this point that different embodiments of the present invention may utilize what may be deemed essentially rigid rods or links in lieu of the flexible strips shown at 66a-66c in FIGS. 1-3, and what are shown as resilient strips in FIGS. l-3 may have widely varying degrees of stiffness in different applications of the invention. However, in any given application, each of the strips preferably have the same stiffness.

As a sheet of paper P is inserted upwardly against plate 10, it will be seen that the upper edge of the paper will slightly lift and rotate each of strips 66a-66c. In FIG. 4a, if a sheet is pushed in the direction of the arrow, it will be seen that the sheet must rotate strip 66 slightly clockwise. If the strips have uniform dimensions along their lengths, and if the strips are deemed to be essentially rigid, it can be shown that the paper must apply a force to each strip equal to one-half of the weight of the strip. If each strip is instead substantially flexible, as diagrammatically indicated in FIG. 4b, the forces required to be exerted by the paper in order to insert the paper are substantially the same. Thus a paper sheet may be fed upwardly with ease. However, as the weight of the paper strip or any external force causes the paper to tend to move downwardly, each strip tends to deform, in a manner shown grossly exaggerated in FIG. 4c, so that a combination of bending and compressive forces occurring in each strip tends to wedge the paper tightly against the back plate, thereby preventing downward movement. Yet still further, if a downward pull exceeding some limit value is applied to the paper, the strips will buckle, and flip from an upwardly-extending position, and eventually hang loosely, extending downwardly, as shown in FIG. 4 d. Thus by providing flexible strips having a proper buckling strength, one may establish a maximum downward force limit, preventing the paper from tearing if that limit is accidentally exceeded.

While the strips 66a-66c have been shown mounted on a shaft 62 which is rotatable, it will be apparent that the shaft need not rotate and may be fixedly mounted if the holes through the strips allow free rotation of the strips relative to the shaft with little friction. Furthermore, if the strips are sufficiently flexible, it is unnecessary in some embodiments of the invention that theholes through the strips allow free rotation of the strips relative to the shaft even if the shaft is fixed against rotation. If the strips are sufficiently flexible, each of them may grip shaft 62 with appreciable friction and the shaft 62 may be made rotatable as shown or fixed against rotation. Sufficient flexibility will insure that each strip will lieagainst the back plate or the paper, even if different strips extend from the shaft at slightly different angles.

A modified form of strip 66 illustrated in FIG. includes a plurality of through holes (five are shown), all of which are interconnected by thin slices through the strip, and any one of which holes may be arranged to loosely surround shaft 62, which is shown passing through the central one of the holes in FIG. 5. It will be seen that by selecting which hole the shaft is located in one may vary not only the maximum downward paperpull force which the device will provide, but also the required paper insertion force, since when the shaft lies in a more leftward (in FIG. 5) hole, more of the weight of the strip lies rightwardly of the shaft, tending to offset or decrease the counterclockwise gravitational moment of the leftward end of the strip.

FIG. 6 diagrammatically indicates a modified embodiment in which the strip-supporting shaft means is formed in two separate parts 62a, 62b which extend in cantilever fashion from opposite sides of the back plate 10, with bent portions of the two shafts being welded to tabs 60, 61 (or, if desired, merely to flanges a, 10b of the back-plate), as at 68, 69. With such a cantilever shaft suspension, the maximum paper-gripping force may be selected by selection of the stiffness of the shaft means, since the free ends of the two shaft means can swing outwardly away from the back plate when the buckling or wedging forces provided by the strips 66a, 66b become too great.

FIG. 7 illustrates a modified form of pivotable strip, i.e. actually a rigid link 66d which is pivotally mounted on shaft 62, and which carries a resilient soft-rubber (or other elastomeric) pad 71 on its end which engages the paper or back plate 10. Link 66d includes a tab portion 72 having a threaded hole which receives screw 73. By adjusting the net gravitational moment about shaft 62, thereby adusting the required paper-insertion force. It should be noted that use of such an ajusting means is not limited to rigid links and can as well be used with resilient strips. FIG. 7a illustrates a resilient strip 66 having a tab 72' cemented to it for such a purpose.

In FIGS. 7 and 7a wherein the center of gravity of each screw assembly is horizontally displaced from shaft 62, when no paper is present pad 71 in FIG. 7 (or strip 66 in FIG. 7a) lies lightly against the back plate, and the rotational moments provided by the weights of the screws tend to be a maximum, i.e. they will vary cosinusoidally with counterclockwise rotation about shaft 62, and thus decrease very slightly as downward paper pull slightly rotates their associated assemblies. This slight decrease in the clockwise moments caused by the weights of the screws will be seen to very slightly aid counterclockwise rotation of the assemblies and thus gripping of the paper. In FIG. 8, on the other hand, screw 73 is provided with additional nuts 75, 75 to provide a substantially greater weight. When the assembly of FIG. 8 is in the position shown, with no paper present, the major weight of the screw and nuts 75 is located very nearly above shaft 62, so that it applies very little rotational moment to the assembly. Upon counter-clockwise rotation of the assembly, however, if a paper tends to move downwardly, it will be seen that the major weight of the screw and nuts 75 will apply a counterclockwise moment to the assembly, thereby providing more effective gripping of the paper. FIG. 8 also illustrates that each pivotal strip may comprise in part a rigid link 66c and in part a flexible strip 66f.

With respect to the various pivotal strips thus far described, if each pivotal strip is substantially straight and rigid, it will be apparent that its end remote from shaft 62 will engage back plate 10, thereby limiting rotation of the strip about the axis of shaft 62 due to gravitational acceleration, so that the strip will extend from shaft 62 to the back plate with a positive, i.e. upward, slope. If each pivotal strip is substantially resilient, i.e. bendable by force of its own weight, or if the strip is rigid but curved, it will lie in generally similar fashion against back plate 10, and at least portions of the strip will extend outwardly from the shaft with a positive slope, through other portions conceivably may have a negative slope, as is illustrated in FIG. 9, wherein strip 66 alternatively may be regarded to be rigid or resilient.

In FIG. 9 it is apparent that because strip 66 is curved, its length considerably exceeds the straight-line distance between shaft 62 and back plate 10, and further apparent that strip 66 could fall vertically and clear plate 10 if its length were slightly shortened, even though its length remained greater than the straightline distance between the shaft and back plate. Thus, since each strip may assume any one of a variety of shapes, it becomes apparent that the length of the strip is not necessarily determinative of whether it will engage the back plate, but rather the radial extension of the strip from the shaft is determinative. However, the radial extension from the shaft will be seen to be a variable quantity insofar as a flexible strip is concerned. If a paper pulls too hard downwardly the strip 66 of FIG. 9, if it is flexible, will straighten out at least to some extent and hang substantially straight downwardly.

It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, among those made apparent from the preceding description, are efficiently attained, and since certain changes may be made in the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. Apparatus for supporting a paper sheet in a substantially vertical plane for viewing by an operator, comprising, in combination: a first member having a flat surface; adjustable linkage means for supporting said first member to dispose said flat surface stationary in a substantially vertical first plane; a shaft having an axis; shaft support means for supporting said shaft to dispose said axis along a line parallel to said flat surface at a predetermined distance from said flat surface; and pivotable wedging means carried on said shaft and having a portion which extends radially from said shaft by an amount exceeding said predetermined distance when said portion is deformed less than a predetermined amount, whereby in the absence of paper sheet between said flat surface and said shaft an end of said portion of said wedging means will be urged against said flat surface with a force commensurate with the gravitational moment of said wedging means, insertion of paper sheet upwardly between said flat surface and said shaft with a force sufficient to overcome said gravitational moment will rotate said wedging means to displace said end of said portion of said wedging means from said flat surface and allow said paper sheet to be fed upwardly beyond said plate means, and said gravitational moment of said wedging means then will wedge said sheet against said flat surface, preventing downward movement of said sheet.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said pivotable wedging means comprises a rigid link having one end mounted to pivot about the axis of said shaft.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said wedging means includes a resilient pad means mounted on a second end of said rigid link.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said pivotable wedging means comprises a resilient strip.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said portion of said wedging means is deformable to a deformed length less than said predetermined distance, whereby a downward pull on said paper sheet in excess of a predetermined value causes said wedging means to release said paper sheet.

6. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said pivotable wedging means includes means for adjusting the net gravitational moment of said wedging means, thereby to adjust the force required for said upward insertion of said paper sheet.

7. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said shaft is journalled to rotate about said axis.

8. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said is fixed against rotation about said axis.

9. Apparatus according to claim 1 having index means vertically slidable along said flat surface.

10. Apparatus according to claim 1 having means carried on said shaft to limit movement of said wedging means along said shaft.

11. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said wedging means are mounted on said shaft to rotate relative to said shaft.

12. Apparatus for supporting a paper strip in a substantially vertical plane at a viewing area, for viewing by an operator, which apparatus allows the operator to advance the paper strip by manually pushing upwardly on a portion of the strip at said viewing area, comprising, in combination: a first member having a flat surface for supporting said portion of said strip at said viewing area; operator-adjustable linkage means for supporting said first member to dispose said fiat surface in a substantially vertical first plane; a pivotable wedging means; means carried on said first member for supporting said wedging means for pivotal movement about an axis extending parallel to said fiat surface at a first distance from said surface, said pivotable wedging means having a portion which normally extends radially from said axis by an amount exceeding said first distance, whereby in the absence of said paper strip between said flat surface and said axis an end of said portion of said wedging means will be urged against said flat surface with a force commensurate with the gravitational moment about said axis of said wedging means, an edge of said paper strip may be inserted upwardly shaft between said flat surface and said axis by urging said strip upwardly against said surface between said surface and said wedging means to displace said end of said portion of said wedging means from said flat surface, and said gravitational moment of said wedging means then will wedge said strip against said flat surface, preventing downward movement of said sheet.

13. Apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said portion of said wedging means is resiliently deformable to a radial dimension less than said first distance upon application of a predetermined downward force to said paper strip, whereby application of said predetermined downward force causes said wedging means to release said paper strip.

14. Apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said means for supporting said wedging means is sufficiently resiliently deformable upon the application of a predetermined downward pull to said paper strip that said axis moves to a distance from said surface exceeding the radial extension of said portion of said wedging means from said axis, whereby application of said predetermined downward pull to said paper strip causes said wedging means to release said paper strip.

15. Apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said linkage means includes a plurality of link members and means for adjustably and frictionally interconnecting the ends of a pair of said link members to allow relative angular adjustment of said link members.

16. Apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said means for supporting said wedging means comprises a shaft and wherein said wedging means comprises a plurality of tab members journalled to rotate about the axis of said shaft.

17. Apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said wedging means includes means for varying the position of the center-of-gravity of said wedging means relative to said' axis to adjust said gravitational moment of said wedging means.

18. Apparatus according to claim 17 wherein said means for supporting said wedging means comprises a shaft and wherein said means for varying the position of the center of-gravity of said wedging means comprises a plurality of spaced portions of said wedging means selectably engageable to pivotally journal said wedging means on said shaft with any selected one of a plurality of different rotational moments of inertia about said axis.

19. Apparatus according to claim 17 wherein said wedging means includes first and second portions, said second portion being radially adjustable relative to said first portion, and wherein said means for varying the position of said center-of-gravity comprises means for adjusting said second portion of said wedging means relative to said first portion. 

1. Apparatus for supporting a paper sheet in a substantially vertical plane for viewing by an operator, comprising, in combination: a first member having a flat surface; adjustable linkage means for supporting said first member to dispose said flat surface stationary in a substantially vertical first plane; a shaft having an axis; shaft support means for supporting said shaft to dispose said axis along a line parallel to said flat surface at a predetermined distance from said flat surface; and pivotable wedging means carried on said shaft and having a portion which extends radially from said shaft by an amount exceeding said predetermined distance when said portion is deformed less than a predetermined amount, whereby in the absence of paper sheet between said flat surface and said shaft an end of said portion of said wedging means will be urged against said flat surface with a force commensurate with the gravitational moment of said wedging means, insertion of paper sheet upwardly between said flat surface and said shaft with a force sufficient to overcome said gravitational moment will rotate said wedging means to displace said end of said portion of said wedging means from said flat surface and allow said paper sheet to be fed upwardly beyond said plate means, and said gravitational moment of said wedging means then will wedge said sheet against said flat surface, preventing downward movement of said sheet.
 2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said pivotable wedging means comprises a rigid link having one end mounted to pivot about the axis of said shaft.
 3. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said wedging means includes a resilient pad means mounted on a second end of said rigid link.
 4. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said pivotable wedging means comprises a resilient strip.
 5. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said portion of said wedging means is deformable to a deformed length less than said predetermined distance, whereby a downward pull on said paper sheet in excess of a predetermined value causes said wedging means to release said paper sheet.
 6. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said pivotable wedging means includes means for adjusting the net gravitational moment of said wedging means, thereby to adjust the force required for said upward insertion of said paper sheet.
 7. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said shaft is journalled to rotate about said axis.
 8. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said shaft is fixed against rotation about said axis.
 9. Apparatus according to claim 1 having index means vertically slidable along said flat surface.
 10. Apparatus according to claim 1 having means carried on said shaft to limit movement of said wedging means along said shaft.
 11. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said wedging means are mounted on said shaft to rotate relative to said shaft.
 12. Apparatus for supporting a paper strip in a substantially vertical plane at a viewing area, for viewing by an operator, which apparatus allows the operator to advance the paper strip by manually pushing upwardly on a portIon of the strip at said viewing area, comprising, in combination: a first member having a flat surface for supporting said portion of said strip at said viewing area; operator-adjustable linkage means for supporting said first member to dispose said flat surface in a substantially vertical first plane; a pivotable wedging means; means carried on said first member for supporting said wedging means for pivotal movement about an axis extending parallel to said flat surface at a first distance from said surface, said pivotable wedging means having a portion which normally extends radially from said axis by an amount exceeding said first distance, whereby in the absence of said paper strip between said flat surface and said axis an end of said portion of said wedging means will be urged against said flat surface with a force commensurate with the gravitational moment about said axis of said wedging means, an edge of said paper strip may be inserted upwardly between said flat surface and said axis by urging said strip upwardly against said surface between said surface and said wedging means to displace said end of said portion of said wedging means from said flat surface, and said gravitational moment of said wedging means then will wedge said strip against said flat surface, preventing downward movement of said sheet.
 13. Apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said portion of said wedging means is resiliently deformable to a radial dimension less than said first distance upon application of a predetermined downward force to said paper strip, whereby application of said predetermined downward force causes said wedging means to release said paper strip.
 14. Apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said means for supporting said wedging means is sufficiently resiliently deformable upon the application of a predetermined downward pull to said paper strip that said axis moves to a distance from said surface exceeding the radial extension of said portion of said wedging means from said axis, whereby application of said predetermined downward pull to said paper strip causes said wedging means to release said paper strip.
 15. Apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said linkage means includes a plurality of link members and means for adjustably and frictionally interconnecting the ends of a pair of said link members to allow relative angular adjustment of said link members.
 16. Apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said means for supporting said wedging means comprises a shaft and wherein said wedging means comprises a plurality of tab members journalled to rotate about the axis of said shaft.
 17. Apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said wedging means includes means for varying the position of the center-of-gravity of said wedging means relative to said axis to adjust said gravitational moment of said wedging means.
 18. Apparatus according to claim 17 wherein said means for supporting said wedging means comprises a shaft and wherein said means for varying the position of the center-of-gravity of said wedging means comprises a plurality of spaced portions of said wedging means selectably engageable to pivotally journal said wedging means on said shaft with any selected one of a plurality of different rotational moments of inertia about said axis.
 19. Apparatus according to claim 17 wherein said wedging means includes first and second portions, said second portion being radially adjustable relative to said first portion, and wherein said means for varying the position of said center-of-gravity comprises means for adjusting said second portion of said wedging means relative to said first portion. 